Young musician Ihab Hamdan presents an outstanding performance on Handpan instrument

The passion for music and Sufi singing made the young man, Ihab Hamdan, seek to delve into the details of this beautiful art, beginning his musical journey by playing different percussion instruments such as the bendir,  then choosing the rare and unique handpan instrument , where he was able to achieve success amid great encouragement from his family and his friends.

Speaking to SANA correspondent , Hamdan, 36 years old, said that he studied Spanish literature at the University of Damascus, but his passion and love for music prompted him to learn it and become attached to it. He studied with percussionist Simon Marish and began playing several percussion instruments, such as the Iranian tambourine and the Tunisian-made” bandir”, which is a percussion instrument used in Sufi and popular music. He pointed out that he performs Sufi singing through these instruments.

Regarding the handpan, Hamdan pointed out that it is a new percussion instrument that appeared in Switzerland in 2000, and later spread to a small extent in the Arab world and in Syria. It is distinguished by its hollow metal shape made of stainless and other metals and produces distinctive melodies and rhythms different from other instruments because it has a 432 Hz frequency that can transport the listener to worlds closer to the climates of yoga and spiritual astronomy. He stressed that handpan music is similar to the sound of water surrounding the fetus, and according to studies and research, it is also used to treat many diseases.

Hamdan pointed out that he played in|’Dubai Handpan Family Band’, which specializes in this instrument, led by the young musician Anas Al-Halabi, who was the first to play it, and which later turned into the first orchestra specializing in the handpan and won the Best Integrated Music Band award at Dubai Youth Music Festival in 2022.

Hamdan wished that this unique instrument would have a special workshop to manufacture it in Syria, as the instrument is not available due to the difficulty of importing it. He stressed that learning to play it is not difficult and is available to everyone. He called on everyone interested in music to explore the joy and privacy of the handpan, which constitutes a rich addition to the local music scene.

Inas Abdulkareem